There are numerous problems with the bill, but the main issue is that it would give the Minister of Health the power to block the registration of medicines of proven quality, safety and efficacy, as well as to allow the sale and provision of untested “treatments” and “cures”.

In other words, a technical scientific task, determining the quality, efficacy and efficacy of medicines, will be subject to political interference. There already is severe political interference with the scientific governance of medicine, as the Rath case and other incidents of the state supporting pseudo-science shows, but this Bill aims to give the Minister's meddling legislative force.

TAC will campaign for this bill to be withdrawn. In weeks to come, we will release further details of our efforts.